Ottawa is experiencing another record-breaking year, thanks in large part to the festive flicks that chose to film here. Twelve holiday movies were shot in the Ottawa region throughout 2021 which contributed $17 million to Ottawa’s economy, employed hundreds of locals, and showcased our stunning locations to audiences worldwide. Combined with the 18 additional feature-length films and several TV series that also shot in the area, the live-action production sector generated over $41 million for the local economy in 2021.

Check back soon for locally-shot holiday movies premiering in 2022!

2021 Christmas movies filmed in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario

Click on a title below to learn more about the films premiering this holiday season

Boyfriends of Christmas Past

Synopsis: Leading up to Christmas, marketing executive Lauren is visited by the ghosts of four ex boyfriends. She must learn to open her heart or risk losing her best friend, Nate.

Directed by Don McBrearty. Starring Catherine Haena Kim, Raymond Ablack, and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.

Release date: Oct. 23 on Hallmark and W Network.

Trailer | IMDB

A Chance for Christmas

Synopsis: A social media influencer and her manager must re-live Christmas Eve until she can hit enough views and learn to love her imperfect life.

Directed by Stefan Brogren. Starring Tori Anderson and Mykee Selkin.

Release date: Nov. 7 on CTV Drama. Currently available to stream for free on ctv.ca.

Trailer | IMDB

Christmas CEO

Synopsis: A small toy company CEO gets a once in a lifetime offer to merge with a mega toy company but will need her estranged ex-business partner’s signature to seal the deal. What he helps her rediscover will change both of their lives.

Directed by Jonathan Wright. Starring Marisol Nichols and Paul Greene.

Release date: Nov. 26 on Hallmark (US) and W Network (Canada).

TrailerIMDB

Royally Wrapped for Christmas

Synopsis: Lindsay Palmer, the NY director of an international charity organization, is called to the Kingdom of Veronia by the royal family who runs the foundation to interview for the job of overseeing the whole operation. As Lindsay is put through the interview process, she ends up finding true love with the prince.

Directed by T.W. Peacocke. Starring Jen Lilley and Brenden Fehr.

Release date: Nov. 27 on GAC Family (US) and Dec. 10 on CTV Drama (Canada).

TrailerIMDB

A Chestnut Family Christmas

Synopsis: When a talented pastry chef, currently working as a live-in cook, accidentally commits to hosting her family for the holidays, she poses as the wealthy homeowner in order to impress them and to remove the “black sheep” burden she has been carrying her whole life. All seems to be going well, until everyone’s secrets are exposed and relationships begin to unravel

Directed by Roger M. Bobb. Starring Meagan Holder, Brad James, and Jaime M. Callica.

Release date: Nov. 30 on OWN.

Sneak Peek | IMDB

A Sisterly Christmas

Synopsis: Two sisters, one who loves Christmas and the other who can be the scroogiest of Scrooges, receive an early Christmas gift: an inheritance that takes them on a once-in-a-lifetime luxury holiday vacation.

Directed by Jerry LaMothe. Starring Deborah Joy Winans, Lisa Michelle Cornelius, Neil Whitely, and Kyana Teresa.

Release date: Dec. 7 on OWN.

Trailer | IMDB

 

Maps and Mistletoe [formerly Christmas Explorer]

Synopsis: Emilia Martin, a cartographer of school maps, has plans for a cozy Christmas at home until her boss has a last-minute project for her, designing a novelty treasure map of the North Pole. Emilia decides to seek out the expertise of North Pole explorer Drew Campbell, who reluctantly agrees to help her. As the two work closely, they discover more than either of them ever expected.

Directed by Max McGuire. Starring Humberly González and Ronnie Rowe.

Release date: Dec. 13 on Lifetime (US) and Citytv (Canada).

IMDB

Let’s Get Merried

Synopsis: Follows a hard-partying, down-on-her-luck, holiday-hater who decides to get married at a Christmas-themed adventure park to a man she hasn’t met.

Directed by Veronica Rodriguez and executive produced by Eva Longoria. Starring Xosha Roquemore, Tahj Mowry, Nicole Power, and Mishel Prada.

Release date: Dec. 13 on VH1.

TrailerIMDB

A Christmas Stray

Synopsis: A tightly-wound corporate executive, finds himself hopelessly stranded in a small mountain town on Christmas Eve, unable to shake the adorable stray dog who ran him off the road, and irresistibly drawn to the free-spirited, local veterinarian who is sorely in need of some Christmas magic herself.

Directed by Roger M. Bobb. Starring  Andra Fuller and Rhyon Nicole Brown.

Release date: Dec. 14 on OWN.

Trailer | IMDB

Under the Christmas Tree

Synopsis: Marketing whiz Alma Beltran and Christmas tree whisperer Charlie Freemont cross paths when Charlie finds the perfect tree for the Maine Governor’s Holiday Celebration — right in Alma’s back yard. While they initially spar, romantic sparks soon begin to fly between the two women as the enchanting tree and some Christmas fairy dust from the town’s pâtissière extraordinaire bring out the best in them and spark each other to take leaps of faith and fight for love and Christmas magic.

Directed by Lise Rose Snow. Starring Elise Bauman, Tattiawna Jones, and Ricki Lake.

Release date: Dec. 19 on Lifetime (US) and Dec. 22 on CTV Drama (Canada).

Trailer | IMDB

Candy Cane Candidate [formerly The Christmas Campaign]

Synopsis: Natural-born leader Julia returns to her hometown of North Falls for Christmas to drown her sorrows in eggnog, cookies, and Yuletide after her recent political campaign for city council ended in a landslide loss. It’s the perfect place for Julia’s holiday escape — until she realizes coming home means running into her old high school rival, Parker, the arrogant know-it-all who beat her in a race for senior class president.

Directed by Pat Kiely. Starring Jacky Lai and Jake Epstein.

Release date: Dec. 20 on Lifetime (US) and Dec. 24 on CTV Drama (Canada).

IMDB

Why Ottawa?

Contrary to popular belief, Ottawa’s snowy season is not the main draw for the beloved Christmas genre; in fact, the majority of Christmas movies that are filmed here happen in the spring, summer, and early fall. Ottawa’s main advantage in attracting Christmas movies, in addition to provincial and federal tax incentives and skilled crew and talent, are its locations. Historic buildings, romantic courtyards, charming small towns, and an assortment of film-friendly businesses all contribute to Ottawa’s growing reputation as a desirable filming destination.

Christmas Movie Bingo - Ottawa Edition

While enjoying a new locally-shot Christmas movie or (re)watching one from years past, add some fun to the festivities with our one-of-a-kind bingo card! We’ve mixed common genre tropes with Ottawa-specific elements that'll have you yelling "Bingo!" in no time.

Download Bingo Card